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GENERAL ENGLISH · BREAKING NEWS · UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)

MISSING
TEENAGER SAVED
BY HAND SIGNAL

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1 Warm up

In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. What was your experience of lockdown like during the pandemic? What did you do with your
time?
2. What did you find particularly difficult during this time?
3. Did you find relationships more difficult, either because you were seeing too much of some people
or not enough? What effect did lockdown have on your relationships?
4. What do you think would happen in an abusive relationship?

2 Focus on vocabulary

Part A: Match the following vocabulary to the definitions.

1. spot (v) a. a child who is below the age to be legally responsible for themselves

2. distress (n) b. a state of great unhappiness and panic

3. viral (adj.) c. notice something, usually when it is hard to see

4. earshot (n) d. outside of what is legally allowed

5. alert (v) e. some evidence that someone was in a particular place or that
something happened
6. trace (n) f. the area over which something can be heard by a particular person

7. unlawful (adj.) g. viewed on the Internet by a large number of people over a short period
of time
8. minor (n) h. warn someone about something negative happening

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Part B: Now put the words from Part A into the correct gap in the following sentences. You may need
to change the form of the word.

1. They couldn’t see me because it was dark, but I several men looking at my
neighbours’ house and climbing over their back fence.
2. The thieves didn’t actually take a lot from my parents’ house when they broke in. But they did
cause a huge amount of for both of them which is what makes me really angry.
3. This morning, Mike made sure everyone was out of before telling me that he’d
actually been offered a job with a different company.
4. I thought it would be OK, but I was told I wasn’t able to bring my daughters inside the club because
they are both .
5. I don’t know where Darren is, there’s absolutely no of him online or at work.
6. My neighbour was arrested at the weekend for possession of firearms. I had no
idea.
7. My cousin was messing around singing on TikTok at the weekend and it’s gone .
She can’t believe it.
8. I’ve noticed that the child was completely alone in the forest, so I immediately
the police.

Now in pairs, discuss the following questions.

1. What situations in life have caused you distress?

2. What do you think it is about certain videos that makes them go viral?
3. Are you good at spotting errors in your writing? What can you do to get better at it?
4. What can adults do in your country that minors can’t?
5. In 200 years from now, will there be any trace of your lifetime on Earth? Why/Why not?
6. Have you ever had to alert the police, fire service, or ambulance about a dangerous situation
happening? What happened?

3 Prediction
You are going to listen to a news report about a missing teenager. Predict how the following information
might be connected to the story.

Video

1. North Carolina
Audio
2. Kentucky
3. 16
4. 61
5. a viral video
6. a smartphone

Now listen to the news report and check your answers.

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4 Listening comprehension

Decide if the following information is Given (G) or Not Given (NG) in the news report.

1. the name of the intended victim

2. the name of the criminal
3. the name of the motorist who called the police
4. where the teenager learned about the hand gesture
5. how to make the hand gesture
6. the percentage increase in worldwide domestic abuse cases in 2020
7. why has the hand gesture become well-known
8. the charges against the criminal

5 Real conditionals

We use real conditionals if we want to talk about how events are connected or give advice. Read the
table.

Zero conditional

(Even) if/ When/ Unless/As ’If’ clause - present tense Main clause - present tense
soon as + (need a comma) +

When they begin, relationships are full of

romance and strong
feelings are created.

Main clause - present tense (Even) if/ When/ Unless/As If clause - present tense
(no comma needed) soon as +

Relationships are full of when they begin.

romance and strong
feelings are created

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First conditional

(Even) if/ When/ Unless/As ’If’ clause (present tense) + Main clause
soon as + (will/should/may/might
/must)

Even if they disagree with you, they should be able to

respect your point of view.

Main clause (Even) if/ When/ Unless/As If clause (present tense)

(will/should/may/might soon as +
/must) +

They should be able to even if they disagree with you.

respect your point of view

Complete the following conditionals with the best choice of words from the box.

is monitoring when should are unless

invite makes meet is must

1 2
1. you meet someone for the first time, you should in a public
place, like a coffee shop or a cinema.
3 4
2. you know someone well, don’t them to your house when you
are alone.
5 6
3. If your partner you feel afraid, you tell someone else about
it.
7 8
4. It a bad sign if your partner your personal phone or your
computer.
9
5. You be free to see your friends and have your own interests if you
10
in a good relationship.

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6 Skimming for gist

Write the following "if" clauses in the correct gaps in the article. You may need to change the punctuation.

• (A) if you feel like you’re walking on eggshells around your partner all the time
• (B) if your partner does anything at all which makes you feel nervous unsafe or afraid
• (C) if they are abusing you
• (D) if you enjoy swimming, or walks in the countryside
• (E) when you’re out and about
• (F) if you achieve something and be supportive of you

Seeing the signs

Good and bad relationships

1.
There’s been a lot of talk in the media this week about the rise in cases of domestic violence and abuse. There
have also been a lot of letters from you, our readers, asking about it. Some of you are worried about friends,
sisters, or cousins. Some of you are worried about yourselves.
2.
With many parts of the world either going back in to lockdown, or yet to come out of lockdown, many people
are trapped with abusive partners. Relationships are naturally very private, so when you’re in one, it’s not always
easy to know what is and isn’t normal. When they begin, relationships are full of romance and strong feelings are
created. But what happens when things go bad? And how do you know?
3.
First of all, a good sign in a relationship is if your partner is happy to take the relationship at a pace which is
comfortable for you. You should be cautious if they’re trying to persuade you make commitments to them that
you aren’t comfortable with. (1) , they should be respectful towards you whether or not you are
around other people. If they put you down or make you feel unimportant when you’re around friends and family,
this could be a red flag.
4.
Importantly, you should be able to talk about your feelings with your partner. Even if they disagree with you, they
should be able to respect your point of view. It is healthy and normal for each of you to have separate interests and
friends and spend time away from each other. However, they should also make an effort to do some of the things
you enjoy with you. (2) , then why not do those things together? They should be happy for you
(3) Giving you compliments and saying positive things about you to other people should not
be unusual in a good relationship.
5.
You should certainly be seeking help (4) . If you frequently have butterflies or feel nauseous
about situations around them, this is also a problem. You should never, under any circumstances, have to be
anxious about what your partner will or won’t do or think. If this is the case, you should look for help - especially
if they ever physically threaten you. However, even if they give you non-physical consequences, such as ignoring
you, or disappearing for long periods of time without telling you where they are going, this is still manipulative
behaviour.
6.
Are they controlling about how you spend your time? You should also be wary if they make you feel guilty for
spending time doing your hobbies or with your friends and family. (5) , you should ask yourself
why. If their behaviour is unpredictable and they are prone to getting angry or verbally abusive with you quickly,
this is wrong. Equally, if they try to make important decisions for you, or don’t listen to your opinion, this is another
bad sign.
7.
Always remember: an abuser may make you feel as though you are responsible for their actions. It is never your
fault; it is the fault of the abuser. Abuse is a crime regardless of whether that person is your partner, or someone
in your family. (6) , you need to seek help.

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7 Comprehension
Complete the following sentences with one, two, or three words from the text.

1. Lockdowns around the world meant that many people were stuck at home with .
2. Relationships are often at the beginning, but sometimes things can turn bad and
it’s difficult to know what to do.
3. If your partner is happy to take the relationship at a speed you are comfortable with, this is a really
.
4. Regardless of whether or not other people are present, they should always be in
the way they treat you.
5. It’s vital that you and your partner can discuss and they will respond to what you
have to say.
6. Your partner on your appearance or your achievements should be a normal occurrence.
7. You shouldn’t be worried about how your partner will react to something you have done or what
they will say, .
8. It is very important to remember if you are the victim of abuse that what is happening to you is
. It is only the abuser who is responsible.

8 Talking point
Read the following letters. What advice would you give to the people who wrote them?

Letter 1

My boyfriend often makes fun of me when we’re out with our friends. I smile and laugh so
that he doesn’t see that I’m actually quite hurt by the things he says. He makes me feel really
stupid and ugly.

Letter 2

My husband has been finding work very difficult lately. He’s been quite stressed and working
really long hours. He tries to do a good job, but there’s been a lot of problems in his company
lately. I made a meal he didn’t like the other night and he got really angry and threw it on the
floor. I’m sure it will be better when he’s not stressed any more but I was a bit scared of him.

Letter 3

My girlfriend hasn’t been communicating with me much lately and has been going out a lot.
She says she’s working, but then on social media, I saw her on some photos with some friends
of hers and some men I don’t know. They were all laughing and having drinks together. I think
I might check her phone to see if I can find any texts from other men. I think she might be
cheating on me.

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9 Extended activity/homework

Find words in the article on page 5 which mean the same as the following.

1. (paragraph 3) the speed at which something progresses

2. (paragraph 3) being careful

3. (paragraph 5) a sick feeling

4. (paragraph 5) extremely worried

5. (paragraph 5) to say you will hurt someone or do something negative to affect

them

6. (paragraph 5) getting what you want by influencing, often in an unfair or

underhand way

7. (paragraph 6) believing that someone or something is dangerous

8. (paragraph 6) difficult to decide what will happen next

9. (paragraph 6) likely to do something

10. (paragraph 6) with spoken words rather than through writing

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Transcripts

3. Prediction

Newsreader: A teenager, who had been reported missing by her parents in North Carolina in the
United States, has been rescued. The 16-year-old girl, who cannot be named for legal
reasons, was spotted in a silver-coloured Toyota with 61-year-old James Herbert Brick
as they were driving through Kentucky.

Newsreader: A passing motorist observed the girl showing signs of distress and was using a hand
gesture that signalled that she needed help and was under threat of violence.

Newsreader: The gesture was popularised earlier this year on TikTok and other social media
platforms in a video which went viral. In the video, a woman demonstrates a non-
verbal way of communicating that she is being abused by placing her flat palm towards
the camera, folding her thumb across her palm, and then folding her fingers over the
thumb.

Newsreader: This allows the victim to communicate a problem within earshot of the abuser without
alerting them, and if performed during a video call, leaves no digital trace. During 2020,
there was significant worldwide rise in domestic abuse cases and the video was part
of a campaign to provide assistance for the victims.

Newsreader: Having seen the signal, the motorist alerted local police and followed Brick to keep
track of the vehicle. Later, Brick was stopped and subsequently arrested and charged
for unlawful imprisonment of a minor. He was also found to possess photography
showing an underage girl in a sexual situation on his smartphone.

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Key

1. Warm up

5 mins.
You may want to elicit the word abusive at the beginning of the class or ask students to look it up in advance.
This is to get the students thinking about their experience of lockdown which will prepare them for the ideas of
lockdown worsening abusive situations which they will encounter in the second half of the lesson.

2. Focus on vocabulary

5 mins.
Ensure students can correctly pronounce the target vocabulary. Ask the students to complete the exercise unaided
in the first instance, but use a reference later if required.
Note: with the adjective viral, the verb go is usually used. With the noun earshot, we often say someone or
something is in/within earshot or out of earshot. The adjective unlawful is usually used in formal circumstances.

1. c 2. b 3. g 4. f 5. h 6. e 7. d 8. a
Part B
10 mins.
Ask students to identify which parts of speech can fill the gaps first. When they have completed that, ask them
to discuss the questions to practise using the vocabulary Circulate and help as needed.

1. spotted 2. distress 3. earshot 4. minors

5. trace 6. unlawful 7. viral 8. alerted

3. Prediction

5 mins.
This gives the students a chance to predict what the story is going to be about, although it was well-publicised so
many may have heard it already. If this is the case, see if they can remember what these aspects are.

1. The state where the teenager was from.

2. The state where the car with the teenager and her abuser was stopped.
3. (16) The age of the teenager.
4. (61) The age of the abuser.
5. This is where the teenager learned the non-verbal signal to show she is in distress.
6. Where sexual images were found in the smartphone belonging to the abuser.

4. Listening comprehension

5 mins.
Ask the students to listen again and decide if the information is or isn’t given in the news report.

1. Not Given: for legal reasons.

2. Given: James Herbert Brick.
3. Not Given.

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4. Not Given: it mentions it was popularised on TikTok and social media, but we do not know where the teenager
specifically saw it.
5. Given: "...placing her flat palm towards the camera, folding her thumb across her palm, and then folding her
fingers over the thumb."
6. Not Given.
7. Given: "... the video was part of a campaign to provide assistance for the victims."
8. Given: "Brick was stopped and subsequently arrested and charged for unlawful imprisonment of a minor. He
was also found to possess photography showing an underage girl in a sexual situation on his smartphone."

5. Real conditionals

5 mins.
This is intended for students who are already familiar with Real Conditionals and is a refresher. Students who have
not dealt with this structure before may need some additional guidance or more time.

1. When 2. meet 3. Unless 4. invite 5. makes

6. must 7. is 8. is monitoring 9. should 10. are

6. Skimming for gist

5 mins.
This gives students a chance to skim read the text while using the grammar structures from the previous exercise.
You may want to set a strict time limit on this exercise to encourage skim reading rather than reading for detail.

1. (E) When you’re out and about

2. (D) If you enjoy swimming, or walks in the countryside
3. (F) if you achieve something and be supportive of you.
4. (B) if your partner does anything at all which makes you feel nervous, unsafe or afraid
5. (A) If you feel like you’re walking on eggshells around your partner all the time
6. (C) If they are abusing you

7. Comprehension

10 mins.
Ask the students to read the text more carefully and complete the sentences with one, two or three words.

1. abusive partners 2. full of romance

3. good sign 4. respectful
5. your feelings 6. giving you compliments
7. under any circumstances 8. never your fault

8. Talking point

10 mins.
Ask the students to discuss the situations in pairs or small groups. Alternatively, you may want students to do this
as a written exercise and reply to the people who wrote the letters. Ensure the atmosphere is collaborative and
everyone is listening to each other. Avoid giving your own thoughts to encourage the students to develop their
own ideas.

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9. Extended activity/homework

10 mins.
This gives students additional help with the vocabulary from the article and allows them to revisit it for homework.
Alternatively, this could be done in advance of reading for lower-level classes to give extra support.

1. pace 2. cautious 3. nauseous 4. anxious 5. threaten

6. manipulative 7. wary 8. unpredictable 9. prone 10. verbally

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